Texas State Fair

We spent the day at the Texas State Fair with my sister.

This is the largest fair in the U.S., and quite the event. It has remnants of its rural beginnings, with stock shows, etc. It has the largest midway in the country, and plenty of ways for you to spend or lose your money. There are hundreds of booths selling cookware, sewing machines, rain gutters, you name it.

But our favorite is what used to be called the "Women's Building," but is now called the Craft Pavilion. This is where the winners in all sorts of arts, crafts, hobbies, etc., are shown. You know, the pickles, quilts, photography, paintings, models, knitting, needlework, etc. They also hold cooking and baking contests; today, they were judging the pies. Hundreds and hundreds of all kinds of pie!

In the stock area, it was pig shows, goat shows, and llama shows! Gorgeous llamas of all sizes! We went and walked down the aisles of the bedding area, and we got to pet a beautiful little alpaca, all white, named "Q Tip."

The day started off misty, but it cleared up and the temperature was pleasant, in the 70's.

It sounds as if you had a great day.

Going to the fair here is one of the many things I look forward to in the fall. I enjoy looking at the crafts and produce and riding the Ferris wheel, but I like seeing all the animals best. The only thing I dislike is that on the weekends, it gets really, *really* crowded.

Sounds like a nice day at the fair. Fairs and festivals are always a great place to people watch! I try to stay away from the food there.

shame on you Mike! for not calling your fellow Texans!
YUM did you eat funnel cake? God, that's where I was introduced to funnel cake.... oh my!
When is it over?

The fair lasts 3 more weeks. It is a LOOOOOONG event!

You can get to the fair on public transit. The Green Line train has a station at the fair. Parking costs $15, a big jump from last year, but my guess is they are trying to encourage use of the public transportation.

Admission is $15 for adults, but you can get reduced-price tickets in a number of locations (we bought ours for yesterday from my employer for $3 off). Also, many days have a reduced price promotion. On Tuesdays, you can get in for only $3 with an empty Dr. Pepper can. On Wednesdays you can get in for only $2 if you bring 3 cans of food for the food bank.

How to get into the fair cheap

There are funnel cakes (which I think actually originated in Pennsylvania), and a zillion other "fair foods." A vendor at the Texas State Fair won the national "Fair Food Prize" this year. It's "Fried Beer." Yes, you need ID. I actually heard about this on an NPR show.

Fried Beer

That sounds like a lot of fun!

Several years ago, we went to the Big E, a huge fair in New England. We had such a good time. Plenty to eat and plenty of things to buy.

Sounds like a great time! I absolutely love fairs, but the one here is Saint John isn't nearly as large or entertaining as it used to be.

Llamas and alpacas? Oh my gosh! Are they a permanent fixture, do you think? I've never bothered with the fair, but if they have llamas and alpacas there, I'm GOING!

Originally Posted by CarolPetunia

Llamas and alpacas?

Oh my gosh! Are they a permanent fixture, do you think? I've never bothered with the fair, but if they have llamas and alpacas there, I'm GOING!

Click to expand...

Carol, do you want to go this weekend?

While on fair thoughts. For pa members the bloomsburg fair is this week. I'm hoping to make it this weekend....I've only been once before and I only want to go again for the food. Oh I loveeeeee fair food

Carolina, what a great idea! But no, I have two nephew things this weekend... and my mom will want to go, too, and I'll have to rent a wheelchair (she can't walk that far)... so you'd have more fun without us, anyway. If you go, hug a llama for me!

Originally Posted by CarolPetunia

Llamas and alpacas?

Oh my gosh! Are they a permanent fixture, do you think? I've never bothered with the fair, but if they have llamas and alpacas there, I'm GOING!

Click to expand...

You can check the fair schedule; they're there today, but I don't know how long. No, they're not a permanent fixture. They have different animals different days.

The llamas were having the show. One of the show people brought the little alpaca, Q Tip, with him because he wanted to get it used to being handled, etc.

Yeah, the weather is perfect for the fair, we went yesterday. Of course everybody likes to brag about their state fairs, but Texans do it best. In this case, bragging is truth!